Demountable rim for automobile-wheels.



E. K. BAKER.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.10. i914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

f. Jwuzntoz MMMMM E. K. BAKER.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS.

APPLICATION HLEI; MAR. 10. 1914.

1,155,398 Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gnuentoz E. K. BAKER.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 10. I914.

1 155 898. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

L m /r5 human s ratus earner canton.

ERLE K. BAKER. OF CHICAGO. ILLLNOIS. ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL RIM GOMEANY, OF

'CHIQAGO. ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM FOR AUTOMOBILE-WHEELS.

Application filed March 10, 1914.

To all whom it may i vncern:

lle it-known that I. EnLIi K. BAKER, a

citizen of the United States. and a resident of Chicago. county of Cook. and State of Illinois. have invented'certain new and'usev ful Improvements in Demountable Rims for Automobile-Vheels, of wh ch the following transversely split and bolted-on type.

' An object-of my invention is to provide a demountable rim of more-simple construction and of lower cost than any now in use;

which more easily may, be placed in'and taken from a pneumatic tire; and which may be used interchangeably upon most automobile wheels now in use.

A further object of my invention is to dispense with the many parts which are now used to connect the ends "of such a run and .in place thereof substitute a virtually single member which preferablyshallserve all the purposes of a spacer, a connector. an aliner, a driver and a valve stem container, whereby the construction of the rim may be greatly simplified while maintained at maximum the necessary qualities of strength, rigidity, durability, safety, efliciency and ease of operation.

M-y invention resides in the novel constructions' and combinations of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed-out in the appended claims and will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying-drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of an automobile wheel equipped "with a pneumatic tire 'mounted upon, a demountable rim embodying my invention; Fig; 2.is an enlarged vertical and longitudinal section of the wheel.

= rim and tire, adjacent the valve stem: Fig; 3

shows the connecting device as it appears on the inner periphery of the rim Fig 4 is a similar view showing the endsof the rim separated; Fig. 5 is a perspectiye view of one of the complementary parts of the connecting device; Fig. 6 is like unto Fig. 3 and shows a connecting device of modified con 'struction; inasmuch as it does not accommodate the .valvestempFig. 7 shows the con- 5 struction.ofFig. 6, as it appears when the.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

Serial No. t3f =.3,8f.)5.

be provided-with the usual inner'side flange (not shown) against which'the rimis. thrust by bolt-actuated wedge-lugs 5, of usual const'ruction.

The invention is not-limited'to a felly band flanged-0n the inner side of the felly,

for in lieu of'the flange on' the telly band I may, and at times do, employ an inner-side set of wedge-lugs, after the manner .shown in application Serial No. 685,103,.filed May Further, my invention is not limited to the combination. of the -metal felly band and wooden felly, for an all-metal construction of the same general form and purpose may be substituted; and where the words felly band appear hereinafter they are used in this inclusive sense. 1

' The felly-band, as well shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a large valve-stem opening 6. The outer end of the hole is usually considerably larger than the valve stem 7, while the inner end nearly'fits the stem; the hole being conical to make it easy to drop the valve stem through the wheel 'felly when placing the rim and tire on the wheel. Most automobile wheels of present day construction which carry rim securing wedge-lugs,. have valve holes thus proportioned to the valve stein. v i

8 is the demountable rim. A's here shown it has integral flanges 8', 8 shaped to receive a straight-side pneumatic tire. In lieu of such flanges, integral clencher flanges may be used And one or both flanges of the rim may be detachable from the, body of the rim in well known manner, and notaifect the'op er'ation or utility of the herein describedinvention. The rim 8 is split or cut apart at one point on a transverse line. Thus, 9 represents thesplit in the rim, and 8 is one end ofthe rim and8 the other. I

.prefer'adiagonal split, as, shown in Figs. 3

No. 502,069 filed June 14, 1909. The outer side of the rim is supported by the wedge I lugs 5 and preferably by intermediately positioned'supporting studs 10, though neither is requisite to the present invention.

The tire 11 is seated on the rim 8 and it is customary to keep the tire inflated thereon Whether or not the rim is in position on the wheel. tends to collapse the rim. Tl" pressure of the Wedge-lugs tends to expand the rim. To overcome both,tendencies I employ a single device at the split 9 in the rim. This device comprises two members and as about to be described, 1 preferably and conveniently serves many purposes.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 it will be noted that one member or plate 12 is secured to the inner periphery of the rim at the end 8 by rivets 13, or by Welding. The plate projects beyond the rim and, therefore, laps beneath and upon the inner face of the end 8 of the rim. On the end 8" I rivet or weld a second member or plate 12 The plates are preferably curved, like. the rim surface to which they apply and, preferably, one or both plates 12, 12 serve as the spacer between the rim ends and the face or felly band of the wheelg'that is, they are of a thickness to fill the space between the rim and the felly band as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 10. For ease of operation I prefer that the plates shall be of less width than the body of the rim. In the rim end 8 and ad jacent to the splittl I provide a hole i for the valve stem 7. This hole. as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is smaller than the hole 6 in the felly band. I make the hole at this point in order that the spreader 7 of the .alve stem 7 (see dotted lines Fig. 2) may close or bridge the split- 9. and thus keep the inner casing or air tube of the tire out of the split.

I provide each of the two members 1:2, 12. with a semi-circular projection 12, 12*. respectively. These projections substantially conform to the hole 1 and when the members are in abutment. as shown in Fig. 3 the two projections 12, 12 form a boss or circular projection of a size to enter and tit the hole 6 in tlie felly band as shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen thus positioned. it is obvious that the projections 12, 12 and the felly band in which they are confined serve to positively connect the ends of the rim and prevent the separation thereof by the force of thewedgelugs. The line of separation between the members 12 and 12 may be variously positioned so long as the plates are not so interlocked in opposition to the split 9 as to prevent the easy separation of the rim ends as required to put the rim onto or take it from a tire. The members are preferably positioned to take the thrust of the rim ends and prevent the angularly cut ends of the rim The pressure of the inflated tire mits the members to be separated in a lateral or transverse direction without interference from or with the valve stem. And to prevent the accidental separation of the plates or members I preferably provide them with complementary sockets and projections 12 and 12. These co-act in the manner represented in Fig. 3 and firmly aline the ends of the rim; and yet the plates may be readily separated by opening the gap of the rim or by pressing the end 8 inward with respect to the end 8"; after which the ends of the rim may be separated as shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood that the ends of the rim cannot be separated as long. as the members 12 and 12 are interlocked within the felly of the wheel. It will also be understood that while so interlocked the connecting members perform the, function of a driver, that-is, they secure the rim against rotation with respect to the wheel upon the beads ofthe tire. Starting at that point,

the rim is progressively placed upon the beads of the tire. the end 8 being the last to enter the tire. Obviously the angularity of the split makes it possible easily to enter the end 3. At. that moment the complementary ends of the members 12. *2 snap together and thereafter hold the rim ends in true alinenient. The described formation of the complementary members permits them to pass into this position without interfering with the valve stem in the hole 14. When the rim has been placed in the tire in this manner. the tire is then inflated, after which it may be placed on the wheel. At that time the complementary driver projections 12.

rim to be removed from the tire, such action being the reverse of that above described.

Though it is desirable to close the split by means. of the valve stem spreader, as above described. the valve stem hole is not always located at or adjacent to the split but is remote therefrom. and sometimes diametgreases 'Z and 8, the valve stem hole 14 is'more or less remote from the split 9". In such case I provide the folly band'witha second hole 17, as indicated inFig. 8. In this case the plates 12." and12 are again complementary and have shouldersglS- that interlock against,

the lateral separating tendency of the rim.

3 As shown thelend 19 of-each plate or member slightly overlaps'the opposite end of therim to prevent dislodgment thereof in a radial direction. Formed on each plate is a projection 20 and the two projections preferably form a round stud to fit a .round hole 17- in the folly band. That is,'these projections form the driver of the rim and when in the felly hole effectively lock the ends of the rim together. Where the felly band carries driving projections 21, 2.1, (see,Fig. 10) which I sometimes use, I dispense with the projections on the interlocking plates and set the latter" between such projections 21, 21. Thus; as in Figs 9 and 10, 22 and 23 are identical plates having interlocking ends 24 and secured on respec-' tive ends of the rim 8. Obviously when thus connected'the rim ends are held againstlateral or-radial displacement untilthe rim is placed on the wheel .and'thereafter are also secured agalnst' separation by the wedges.

As used in the appended claims the word rim 'meansa suitably flanged, tire-carrying, demountable wheel rim; and, the

word transplit split'containinga transverse split.

W'hile I='have illustrated and described my invention in accordance with the patent;

statutes,- Idesire .it to be understood that the details of construction may be materially varied and that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be made in 7 the demountable rim herein illustrated with- I out departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

.claim as new and desire to'secure by Let 4 'ters Patent:

1. A diagonally transplit rimfin combination with complementary rim-end interlocking plates upon the inner-periphery of the rim secured to respective ends and holding said ends slightly apart.

2'. A diagonally transplit rim, in combination with complementary rim-end interlocking plates upon the inner periphery of the rim, secured to respective ends thereof, holding them apart and together forming a driver.

3. A diagonally transplit rim, in combination with complementary rim-end interlocking plates secured to respective ends of the means transversely rim and one overlapping the opposed end, said plates normally holding the rim ends apart and together forming a driver.

a. A transplit rim, in combination with complementary end interlocking members fixed upon the inner periphery of the rim, one of said members bridging the split in the rim and the other, with the rim end to which it is secured, containing a valve stem hole.

bers, the same being fixed to respective ends of the'rim, and-having projections which together form a driver and a valve stem bushing. Y

* 6. A transplit rim containing a valve stem hole adjacent its split, in combin tion with two plates fixed" to respective on s of the rim upon the inner periphery thereof, said plates together containing a continuation of said valve stem hole and. being engaged upon an irregular line'that intersects the hole.

therein.

7. A transplit rim containing a valve stem hole adjacent its split, in combination with two plates fixed to respective ends of the rim upon the'inner periphery of the rim and provided with semicircular driving flanges,

5. A transplit rim containing a valve stem hole and having upon its inner periphery two cdmplementary end-interlocking mom-- containing a continuation of said valve stem hole and the two being engaged upon an irregular line to interlock the ends of the rim.

a A transplit rim, in combination was two stam'pings fixed to respective ends of the rim upon the inner periphery thereof and each presenting a semicircular flange, which flanges together form a driver.

10. A transplit rim, 'in combination withtwo complementary interlocking stamplngs fixed to respective endsof the rim upon the inner periphery thereof and each presenting a semicircular fiangerwhich flanges together form a driver.

11. A. wheel felly band containing a valve i stem hole. .in combination with a transplit I rim having upon its ends fixed complementarymembers which co-act with the hole in the wh el' felly and form 'a rim driver and preven expansion of the rim onthe felly.-

12. A wheel felly band containing a valve stem hole, in combination with a transplit rim containing a valve stem hole, adjacent to its split. and two-complementary membersfixed upon respective ends of the rim and each formed to accommodate the valve stem and having a driving part to-enter the hole in said felly.

13. A wheel felly band containing a valvestem hole, in combination with a'transplit rim containing a valve stem hole adjacent to its split, and two complementary members fixed upon respective ends of the rim and abutting upon an irregular line and each formed to accommodate the'valve stein-and locked upon an irregular line and opposing lateral separation of the rim ends, each plate having an integral inwardly extending projection, and said projections being normally in abutment and together forming a driver to c0-a'ct with a Wheel .felly.

15. A transplit rim containing a valve stem hole separate from but adjacent its split, in combination with two plates fixed 'to respective ends of the rimiipon the inner periphery thereof, said plates together containing a continuation of said valve stem hole and being engaged 111301121 line that intersects said hole.

In testimony whereof 1 have hereunto set my hand, this 2nd day of March, 1914, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ERLE K. BAKER.

\Vi tnesses N. CURTIS Lsiiimiom) JAMES S. DODGE, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents. Washington, D. 6. 

